Saddles for short-backed horse

Look into a verhan odyssey. It fit my short backed, short coupled horse beautifully. They have slightly upswept panels in the back and a slightly banana shaped tree that works really well for those types! Unfortunately, I’m back with a long, straight backed horse so I had to sell mine :frowning:

I think there are a few on Pelham saddlery though, last time I checked.

My 14 3 Arabian mare , very short backed, goes great in a Hulsebos WB4. Her half warmblood 15 3, 9 year old, colt uses it well, also. I’m a fan and they come to the Kansas City area to check fitting twice a year, It is a flocked saddle that does not need major changes for us.

My short backed Connemara wears a Black Country. We both love it.

I have a very short-backed Andalusian and I feel like I tried everything. We ended up with a Macrider Challenger for $3500 although I think you can probably find them for a bit less. The trees are adjustable which is a huge plus and the saddle has upswept panels in the back. She also has huge shoulders and the saddle gives her plenty of shoulder freedom. I just tried the Macrider Lexington for my other horse. It didn’t fit her so I can’t speak to how it rides but it was a very nice saddle. Macrider also makes the Arlando model which is supposed to be specifically for the short-backed horse. The Challenger and the Lexington were super comfy. Another boarder just tried the Schleese Obrigado on her very short-backed horse and he didn’t like it. I did not ride in it but I was surprised at how big the saddle was. Some of the Prestige models seem to be made for a shorter-backed horse but I’ve not tried them.

I had your horse, but in a wide version, lol! I’ve tried them ALL (trust me!). My recommendation that is budget friendly is to try a Black Country Eloquence with upswept panels, if you can find one. Another suggestion might be to try a Neidersuss.

You would have to spend for shipping, but I had a very good experience with Pelham Saddlery.

I did tracings and took pictures of my horse’s back. The knowledgeable staff there immediately knew that some of the saddles I had looked at online wouldn’t work for the shape of his back. Even when I decided that I liked a saddle, they looked at pictures of it on him, extended the trial, and consulted with the fitter to make sure it was workable before we finalized the deal. They could have easily just taken the money for the saddle, but they wanted to make sure that it was right.

I was close enough to make the trip to the store, but they do a lot of remote work too. I know they have several Black Country dressage saddles on consignment, so you might find your saddle from there.

I have a very short coupled, short backed, mutton withered, downhill Cleveland bay cross with a huge shoulder, and I just purchased a Custom Advantage R with pony panels and the billets off the point to allow more shoulder movement. I couldn’t be happier with my purchase. It fits him unbelievably well and the narrower twist allows me to really sit into the saddle and get my legs around him.

Prior to that I was riding in a Scheese HK that worked well for his short back. I would have kept that saddle for him but I was using it on two horses and I couldn’t make it work for both of them anymore.

Just saw a really nice obrigado on Facebook I think the page was dressage tack for sale. It looked very new. They didn’t have a price listed.